Chesham United Football Club

1.    James Beasant

 

2.    Michael Sharman

 

3.    Sam Ledger

        (booked 90 mins)

4.    Matt Skinner

 

5.    Kieran Allen-Curry

 

6.    Kevin Cotton

 

7.    Mark Lambert

 

8.    Danny Talbot

        (goal 30 mins)

9.    John Lawford

 

10.    Adam Parker

        (sent off 61 mins)

11.    Dom Marsala

 

 

12.    Danny Craggs

 

14.    Bradley Holt

 

15.    Phil Turner

        (for Lawford 85 mins)

16.    Tommy Higgins

 

17.    Richard Hayward

 

 

Chesham's run of four successive wins came to an end but they are still unbeaten in six.  At half-time Chesham seemed well on their way to victory after dominating the opening half, but finished the more grateful to hear the final whistle the dismissal of Adam Parker and a fightback by home side.

 

With Andy Keepence still not fit Chesham's team showed two changes, Danny Talbot replacing the injured Dave Fotheringham and John Lawford in for the suspended Danny Burnell.  Phil Turner was back on the bench after two months out, alongside recent signing Danny Craggs.  There was a strong and bitterly cold wind blowing straight down an exposed ground, but curiously both teams played better with the wind against them.  Bishops Cleeve played with the wind in the first half, but Chesham had the first chance after five minutes when Danny Talbot's corner caused havoc in the home area, Kieran Allen-Curry's shot was cleared off the line and John Lawford's effort from the rebound was saved by home keeper Jon Skeen.  After this Chesham controlled the game with neat interpassing while the home forwards were continually caught offside.  Chesham were good value for the lead given them on the half-hour, when home defender Mike Rhodes was booked for hauling back John Lawford, but Danny Talbot made them pay with a superbly-flighted free kick over the wall and into the top corner of the net.

 

After 35 minutes Bishops Cleeve had their first shot, an angled effort from Sam Avery that James Beasant was able to parry, but shortly afterwards a good passing move set up Adam Parker who crossed low from the left, causing a mad scramble which ended with Dom Marsala being denied at the far post.  Late in the half Michael Sharman miscontrolled and let in Kevin Slack but Beasant was able to watch the resulting shot roll harmlessly across goal.  With the wind in their favour in the second half it seemed that Chesham should go on to win comfortably, but in the opening minutes Bishops Cleeve began to press for the first time.  After nine minutes James Beasant dropped a swirling cross and Allton Axton shot past the far post from a good position, but in the next minute a quick through ball sent Kevin Slack clear to shoot past the advancing Beasant for the equaliser.

 

Six minutes later Adam Parker was late with a challenge on Rhodes and it seemed that the referee was about to show him a yellow card, only to produce a red.  Although it seemed a strange decision at the time, supporters behind the goal said that Parker threw a punch as the home players squared up to him so can have no complaints.  Chesham were now up against it as Bishops Cleeve produced the more flowing football and Joe Tustain shot wastefully wide, then Beasant produced a good save from a Slack shot.  However Chesham had a good chance against the run of play when Skeen saved but could not hold a long shot from Danny Talbot, and Dom Marsala got to the loose ball first but shot hurriedly over the bar.  At the other end a short back pass caused a scramble in the Chesham goalmouth which ended with Matt Skinner clearing off the line, then shortly afterwards there was another goalmouth melee before the ball was hacked away.  However Chesham weathered the storm and late on a good passing move saw Mark Lambert's cross cleared as far as Matt Skinner, who slipped the ball through to Danny Talbot whose shot was beaten away by Skeen.  Generally the officials had a reasonable game, but in stoppage time there was a comically bad decision when a Talbot free kick looped up off the wall and went behind off the head of Axton but amazingly both officials awarded a goal kick, after which Sam Ledger was booked for a comment to the referee.